Sunderland have agreed a combined £6 million fee to sign Manchester United pair Paddy McNair and Donald Love, according to sources.

The Black Cats are belatedly stepping up their summer recruitment drive after a close-season of managerial uncertainty and just days before the start of the new Premier League season.

They finally made their first signing of a disrupted transfer window when Papy Djilobodji was lured from Chelsea for £8 million last Friday.

And David Moyes has now returned to his former Manchester club to prise away two of Old Trafford’s most talented young prospects, say reports.

McNair is a 21-year-old centre-back who can also play at right-back, right wing-back and in central midfield.

He represented Northern Ireland at the recent European Championships, and has 11 caps.

Love, also 21, is a right-back who made his senior debut against the Black Cats at the Stadium of Light in February, and spent time last season on loan at Wigan Athletic.

Though both are highly rated at Old Trafford, neither was expected to figure significantly under Jose Mourinho, and Sunderland are understood to be set to pay an initial fee of £5 million for McNair, rising to £7 million, and a straight £1 million for Love.

Both are expected on Wearside for medicals on Wednesday, ahead of signing what are thought to be four-year contracts.